Untitled

Abstract

Citrus canker caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv.citri (Xac) is a pernicious disease that retards quality citrus production. In this study, we investigated the individual and combined competence of Benzothiadiazole (BTH), Peak Performance Nutrients (PPN) and Riboflavin (Rib) to mitigate the progress of canker disease. Lime seedlings of BARI Lebu-2 inoculated with Xac bacteria were used in the study. There were three individual and three combined treatments such as PPN, BTH, Rib and (PPN+BTH), (PPN+Rib), (PPN+BTH+Rib) wherein the concentrations were 0.4%(PPN), 1 mM(BTH) and 2 mM(Rib). Water treated plants were used as a control. Plants were sprayed with treatments after ten days of interval and for the combined treatment, the second and third chemical was sprayed on the following day after application of the first chemicals. The result divulged that, (PPN+BTH) and (PPN+BTH+Rib) showed the best performance to attenuate disease severity (DS) and lesion diameter (LD) accompanied by an augmentation of latent period. In addition, they inclined Total Phenolic Compound (TPC), Soluble Protein (SP) and Phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) activity within the plants. Besides, plants treated with PPN singly or in combination with BTH and Rib showed higher accumulation of nutrient minerals such as N, P, K, Ca, Fe and Zn than PPN non-treated plants. Based on the findings, we suggest that application of (PPN+BTH) (0.4%+1 mM) and (PPN+BTH+Rib) (0.4%+1 mM+2 mM) is effective on inducing resistance in the citrus plant against Xac.